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Complete DS game downloads headed to Nintendo's Wii
Just a few months ago, we received word that DS demo downloads would be headed to the Wii, but if recent comments made by the Big N's own Reggie Fils-Aime are to be believed, entire games are also on the horizon. According to the New York Times, Reggie noted that "complete games as well as game samplers will be able to be downloaded into the Wii using its broadband connection, and then transferred wirelessly to the DS." Sadly, no definitive time frame for the service was revealed, but you can color us all kinds of intrigued.[Via PCWorld]
Super Mario Galaxy DS video a hoax
About ten days ago, we got our first glimpse of a video showing a downloadable, Nintendo DS version of Super Mario Galaxy, supposedly hidden inside the Wii version of the game. We watched with rapt attention as the shaky-cam footage showed Mario and Luigi jumping from the Wii to the DS using a previously unknown, hidden galaxy and the DS' WiFi download capabilities. We were surprised to see low-resolution versions of Mario and Luigi running around low-resolution versions of familiar Mario Galaxy levels. We were shocked and hopeful when the video promised each DS star would be redeemable for 10 Wii shop points.We weren't ready to definitively declare the video real or fake at the time, but now, after some digging, we're ready to set the record straight on this hoax. Read on for our evidence and thoughts on the matter.
DSvision bringing downloadable content to Nintendo's DS
If you're still teetering on the edge of picking up a DS Lite for yourself, here's yet another reason to go ahead and pull the trigger. Dai Nippon Printing has partnered with AM3 in order to offer up a new way to get content / media onto Nintendo's handheld. The system, dubbed DSvision, will enable DS / DS Lite owners to purchase a variety of material through the web, including books, comics, movies, music, etc., and then transfer the files over to the DS for on-the-go enjoyment. The product package will reportedly include a 512MB microSD card, a DS cartridge adapter and a USB adapter (shown after the jump) for use with one's PC. It looks as though the hardware will hit Japanese shelves in January for ¥3,980 ($37), but the web-based content delivery system won't go live until March.[Via SlashGear]
See the sexy new Zelda, Nintendogs DS bundles
We already knew this was coming, but Nintendo affirmed today that we'll be seeing two new DS models on the day after Thanksgiving, and they sent along these sexy new box shots to prove it. The first is a Phantom Hourglass bundle that comes with a "glimmering Gold edition" of the DS. If you're ready to take DS gaming from something you can do in public places to something you can do in dimly-lit public places full of non-judgmental people, this is the package for you.For the ladies there's the Rose DS (check it out after the break), which comes bundled with Nintendogs. It's the "Best Friends" edition of the game, the one that should be rated M for "Most Adorable Thing Ever". Both packages are available for the bargain price of $150.
Nintendo's DS Lite Bundles are a real pair
Sometimes those rumors are spot-on. Just like we heard, Nintendo is launching two special-edition Nintendo DS bundles for the holidays. The Gold edition ships with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass while the Metallic Rose ships with the Best Friends version of Nintendogs. Each comes emblazoned with the series' signature logo, "a shiny nugget that any gamer -- girl or guy -- would be proud to show off." Right, 'cause all gamers love to show off their nuggets. Available on November 23rd for an undisclosed price, though expected to be $150 like the rumor said.
Sears ad shows off two new DS Lite models
Well, it looks like those that have yet to take the plunge on a DS Lite will soon have two more models competing for their attention, as evidenced by this Sears "Black Friday" ad that recently turned up online. As you can see, one of the models is a Zelda: Phantom Hourglass model, although it's a good deal more subtle than the one spotted earlier this month. The other is a metallic pink Nintendogs: Best Friends model, which gets in its cross-branding with equal subtlety. Both models also come bundled with their respective games although, at $150 apiece, those looking for the best bargain will likely be able to do better with a non-coordinated model.[Via Digg]
Nintendo uses natural selection for its quality control
EGM and likely many, many Wii and DS owners have maligned the lack of quality control on Nintendo platforms of late, especially considering how tightly the company held the reigns in its early days. In a recent interview with MTV Multiplayer, outgoing Nintendo spokesperson Perrin Kaplan defended the company, explaining that it was less focused on quality control than natural selection."If [publishers] publish for any of the three, if the product does not sell well, it fails on its own. If they cannot get shelf space, it fails on its own. If consumers don't buy it, it fails on its own. So I do think that the poorer stuff does get sifted out and the really good products do rise to the top," Kaplan said. There's logic to what she's saying, of course. But it must be easy to advocate survival of the fittest when all of your games are Jack Lalanne.
Ys I and II being remade for DS
Originally released in the late 80s for PC, Ys I and Ys II were the foundation of what would become a fairly popular RPG series spanning across several systems. Now, gramps and grandma are getting a fresh coat of paint for the bajillion or so DS owners in Japan. This new version will offer new animations, a multiplayer mode and boss fights. The kicker is that the games will be sold separately from each other for the equivalent of $44 ... a piece. Hey, we just finally figured out how to pronounce Ys properly: "ball-sy."
Rumor: Nintendo to offer flash cards for Game Boy downloads
You might remember that yesterday we linked to a rumor-rich story that Animal Crossing could be going the MMO route. While we still have no idea on the validity of that, buried within that story was the equally interesting (and equally rumored) nugget that Nintendo would be releasing a DS flash card designed so Nintendo could sell Game Boy and Game Boy Color games though some sort of download service.As you know, GB and GBC carts do not work in the DS, because, scientifically speaking, they would look stupid, so we're happy to see some of the classics become available. That said, the big question (just after "Is this actually happening?") is how much we'll be paying. As we've learned, where Nintendo's concerned, nostalgia can often come at a premium.[Via DSF]
DS demo downloads coming to the Wii
It looks Nintendo has plenty more than just keyboard support in store for the Wii, with the company also taking advantage of a recent conference in Tokyo to announce a forthcoming DS demo download service for the console. Dubbed "Everyone's Nintendo Channel" (at least in Japan), the service effectively turns your Wii into your very own DS Download Station, with both game demos and videos available to be transferred to your DS. Unfortunately, there's no word as to when the service might actually become available, although we doubt Nintendo would risk raising the ire of the DS-toting masses by holding out on it for too long.[Via DS Fanboy, image courtesy of C3 News]
Phantom Hourglass is unintentional Zelda remake
According to Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, players who delve into the upcoming Phantom Hourglass on DS may find it somewhat familiar. In speaking with MTV Multiplayer, Aonuma said that in his quest to return the series' roots he unintentionally remade the very first version of the game, which just passed 20 years since its NES release here in North America.Honestly, the Zelda series has been so impressive under his leadership, we'd trust the guy if he said Phantom Hourglass was an unintentional remake of Kabuki Quantum Fighter. ... Come to think of it, we'd totally buy that game. But if you're looking for something more traditional, you can get that old Zelda feeling for yourself when the portable Wind Waker sequel drops next week.
Paste Donkey Kong on photo, win a DS lite and DK Jungle Climber
Do people exist somewhere that don't own this system? If the Japanese sales charts are to be believed, then there have been enough Nintendo DS systems sold so that every man, woman, child, and dog on the planet could have one of these. And a spare.However, if you are DS-less and have a hankering to get onboard with the action, and you have some rudimentary photochopping skills, then try your hand at the Nintendo DS/DK contest at SmugMug. All you have to do is paste the little guy climbing to the top of pretty much anything, and then submit it. Keep in mind though, images must be under 12 mb in size (good gawd).It's a pretty easy contest to enter, and the swag is well worth the time, so why not whip something up and get in? We made one in just a few seconds (hint, it's the image for this post) so you should trump our skillz easily and submit it to them. Check out the rules on their site. Also, the comment on the first (and only) entry that's up so far is ... priceless. Ahh, the internets.
GameTech set to release Nintendo DS save game transfer system
Those looking to be a little more selective in the Nintendo DS-related media they transfer to and from their PC will soon have a new option from GameTech, which is set to release the above hardware/software combo in Japan on August 31st. While there unfortunately doesn't appear to be much more info than what you see on the box, the system seems to be straightforward enough, consisting a USB stick-sized device that'll accommodate your DS cart and some software (Windows only) that'll help you backup and manage your save game files. Of course, we're sure there's plenty of folks that'll find more uses for the thing than just save games, although it doesn't seem like GameTech's willing to help you in that department.
Chibi-Robo sequel delayed, possibly canceled for U.S.
Fans of the super-cute Gamecube adventure Chibi-Robo (both of you) have been waiting with bated breath for the DS sequel, Park Patrol, ever since it was first shown at E3 2006. But there's been a bit of confusion over when the game, which came out in Japan earlier this month, will actually be reaching our shores.As SiliconEra reports, the release date on the game's Nintendo.com page has been moved from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2. A one week delay isn't a big deal, but reports that pre-orders for the game are being canceled at Gamestop are more worrying. The game doesn't show up on searches on Gamestop's web site (unlike other October releases) and GameFly's listing of a TBD release date is similarly troubling. The official word from Nintendo's PR agency is that the game is still on track, so maybe we're just worrying over nothing. Either way, we'll keep you posted when we hear more.
Rare is bringing Viva Piata to the DS
During the final day of Comic Con, Rare held a Viva Piñata panel discussion and made a surpeise announcement that Viva Piñata will be heading to the Nintendo DS. So, it looks like Shane Kim's talk of bringing the franchise to the DS making sense ended up being one of those sly hints of things to come. Viva Piñata on the DS is being developed by Rare and will be very similar to its lovably fun Xbox 360 version featuring the same core gameplay elements. Nothing more about the DS version was mentioned other than it'll be teh awesomeness, but we'd like to hear when the DS version will hit retail, if it'll incorporate the DS's wireless features and how pretty it is.So, there you have it fanboys. Viva Piñata will be on the Nintendo DS and Horstachio will have a new condo to call home. Touch screen and all!
Puzzle Quest rated by ESRB for Macs
Our sister site Joystiq reports that Puzzle Quest, the handheld puzzle-slash-RPG sensation, has been rated by the ESRB for a Mac release. The news isn't that surprising, as Puzzle Quest has already been slated to appear on almost every platform but the Mac (although PS3 hasn't received the love either). It is great news, as Puzzle Quest is supposed to be a terrific game, and it is exactly the kind of casual game that belongs in OS X.An ESRB rating isn't exactly official confirmation, but it does usually mean that the game is playable, so chances are we'll see the game released sooner rather than later (if I had to guess, I'd say by this holiday season, but don't quote me on that). If you happen to have a PC box around, there's a demo available right now, but from all reports, if you like puzzlers and/or RPG games, this game is good enough to pick up sight unseen.
Wii Warm Up: A question of demos
We've got a quick question for you today: if you could choose something to be implemented on the Wii right now, today, would you choose downloadable demos of DS games (for the handheld, downloaded from the Wii), or would you be more interested in demos of Virtual Console games?We probably could have just asked if you own a DS or not, since we think the first option would be super keen for those of us who don't often find themselves around a download station, but we're sure many among you would prefer VC demos.
Crimson / Black DS Lite up for pre-order at Canadian retailer
While there doesn't appear to have been any official announcement from Nintendo as of yet, Canadian retailer Future Shop is now offering a new "Crimson/Black" DS Lite, which so far appears to only be available in a bundle with Brain Age 2. What's not clear is if this is exclusive to Canada (or, less likely, exclusive to Future Shop), but it seems like we should be hearing more about it soon enough, as it's apparently set to be released on August 20th (coinciding with the launch of Brain Age 2). While those in the states are out of luck for the time being, our Canadian friends can pre-order order the bundle now (which also includes a nifty carrying case) for $159.99 Canadian (or just over $150US).[Via RedFlagDeals]
GameStop holding Pokemon tournament this Saturday
Reader capnwang wrote in to tell us of a Pokemon tournament going on at select GameStop stores. Taking place this Saturday, July 21st, the tournament demands you bring your DS and team of Pokemon in-store for the chance to win a copy of Pokemon Battle Revolution. In calling our local GameStop, they aren't having a tournament there, but acknowledged that other stores are doing it.Plan on running down there this weekend to rock your Pokemon?
My Favorite Martian
If The Martian DS looks a little rough on the edges, it's because the title was originally created by a team of three for a 72-hour game development competition four years ago. The resulting project is actually quite impressive, considering, and we're happy to see that one of the original developers took the time to create a homebrew port of it for the DS. Short but sweet, The Martian DS is a side-scrolling shooter in the vein of Alien Hominid. Players roam the city picking up weapons and power-ups while dodging constant gunfire from the local law enforcement. The game really suffers from the lack of a soundtrack, but the original character sprites, especially the donut-heaving boss, makes up for it. %Gallery-4955% [Via GBATemp]
